The Manager's Pocket Guide to Leadership Skills

The Art of Questioning

The primary goal of the interview is to get the best information possible so the interviewer can make a good selection. The best tool for getting good information is to ask good questions. There are two different types of questions: close-ended questions and open-ended questions.

1.  Close-ended questions. Close-ended questions are questions that can be answered with a yes or no. For example, if you asked an applicant if he or she likes his or her present job, the answer could simply be yes or no. The disadvantage of using close-ended questions in an interview is they do not produce the maximum amount of possible information. Close-ended question begin with words like “Is,” “Can,” “Do,” “Did,” “Will,” and “Are.”

2.  Open-ended ...